Blair packs chamber,
say critics

Appointments renew
demand for reforms

Published: Saturday, April 01, 2000

LONDON {AP} Just months after expelling aristocrats from the House of Lords, Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair has reappointed a clutch of bluebloods to Britain's upper chamber, while the Conservatives gave a title to a billionaire tax exile who is a major party donor.

The appointments sparked renewed calls Friday for the Lords to be elected or chosen by an independent commission, rather than appointed by the prime minister.

The 33-member list of new peers announced Thursday including 20 Laborites revived charges that Blair is packing the chamber with cronies, and that opposition Conservatives exchanged a peerage for cash.

In November, Blair expelled about 600 peers with inherited titles of nobility, and the Lords now mainly consist of commoners given lifetime titles. Their power is restricted to delaying legislation for up to one year.

A blue-ribbon committee recommended in January that the new House of Lords be mainly chosen by an independent commission. Blair, who pledged to completely reform the body after Labor came to power in 1997, has not said whether he will accept the recommendations.

Also Friday, critics said a title was given to expatriate Michael Ashcroft in reward for his $4.8 million in donations to the Conservative party, some of whose own members criticized the appointment.